HARROWBARROW SCHOOL
(Academy Trust)
PROSPECTUS
2013 - 2014

At Harrowbarrow School our aim is for every child to reach their full potential academically, socially and physically in a safe, caring, challenging and stimulating environment.

Our School Vision

  • To achieve the highest quality of teaching and learning, securing high standards of attainment.
  • To provide a challenging, stimulating and safe learning environment in which children are motivated to work hard to achieve their personal best.
  • To encourage children to be independent learners who are happy, confident and secure and have respect for others.
  • To promote the spiritual, moral, social, health and cultural development of each child in line with the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda.
  • To offer equality of opportunity and access to a curriculum, in line with national developments, that is broad, stimulating, creative, balanced, relevant and differentiated.
  • To promote partnership between child, parent, teacher and the wider community.
  • To ensure all staff are valued as committed and caring professionals within a reflective and developing team.

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Harrowbarrow School. In this prospectus you will find all the information you and your child need, as they start their learning journey with us. We very much look forward to working in partnership with you.

Yours sincerely

Mr Andrew Hunt

Headteacher

CONTENTS

  • Getting Ready for School
  • Entry to School
  • School Achievements
  • School Dress
  • Physical Education
  • School Premises
  • Times of the School Day
  • Teaching Arrangements
  • Curriculum
  • Extra- curricular activities
  • OFSTED
  • Discipline and Care
  • Attendance
  • Parental Involvement
  • Harrowbarrow Parent Staff Association
  • Complaints
  • Staff
  • Governors
  • Contact Details
  • Term Dates

For various reasons it may be necessary to amend articles in this document throughout the year.

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number 7770592

An exempt charity

Registered Office: Harrowbarrow School, School Rd, Harrowbarrow, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 8BQ

GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL

The school runs a “Learning Together” transition project in the term before admission. These sessions provide an opportunity for pre-school children to become familiar with the school, their teachers and their future classmates. A book and activity pack may be borrowed each week.

Your child will have the opportunity to participate in “Learning Together” sessions in the summer term prior to starting school.

Harrowbarrow & Metherell Pre-school Playgroup which is held in the adjacent village hall is the main feeder playgroup for the school. For further details call the Playgroup mobile: 0777 3640139 or the hall land line: 01579 351250.Alternatively, visit

The school and playgroup have close links allowing pre-school children to attend a weekly story time session in the reception class in the spring and summer terms. The pre-school are also invited to use the school’s facilities as required.

The school also maintains links with Dimson Day Nursery and Kid’s Club who offer before and after school care. For further information please look at the Dimson website

ENTRY TO SCHOOL

Your child will be eligible for a place in the Reception class during the school year which runs from 1st Sept 2013 – 31st Aug 2014 if he/she was born between 1st Sept 08 and 31st Aug 09. All parents now have the opportunity to enrol their children full-time from September. However, this is optional and parents whose children were born after 1.3.09 may elect to send their children part-time for the Autumn Term if they choose.This would be morning only sessions from 8.50am until 12.00pm. They would then start full-time in the Spring Term.

Arrangements for school visits can be made through the School Office. It is recommended that you register your interest in the school as early as possible. Those who have registered their interest in the school will be sent a reminder about the admission procedures at the appropriate time. All admission decisions are made by the Local Authority.

SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENTS

Healthy School Award

The school has received recognition for its achievements in pupils’ sports activities, the promotion of a healthy diet and lifestyle and pupils’ care and well-being.

Active Mark Gold Award

The school has received Sport England’s Active Mark Gold Award and the FA Charter Mark in recognition of the school’s outstanding commitment to promoting the benefits of physical activity and school sport.

Inter- school sport competitions

The school regularly participates in local schools leagues for football, ‘High Five’ netball, cross country and athletics. We participate in multi-sports and tag rugby festivals among many other local sporting events.

Music and Performing Arts

We are proud of Harrowbarrow School’s musical achievements. The school orchestra and choir perform at both school and local events at various times throughout the year. Both infants and juniors sing and recite in concerts and special assemblies. The school’s country dance troupe put on an annual display at the May Day village celebration.

Creative arts

Creative arts are encouraged beyond the normal curriculum provision through after school clubs, enrichment afternoons, collaboration with artists and participation in local art and craft fairs.

We have also been privileged to take part in the Cotehele Garland project where a group of children have been involved in growing and drying flowers to contribute to the garland.

Recognition for pupils

Cups are awarded to Year 6 pupils who have shown outstanding achievement in the above areas. These are presented at the annual Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly.

SCHOOL DRESS

The school uniform is as follows:-

Winter clothes for boys and girls:

Grey trousers/skirts/pinafores

Navyjumpers/sweatshirts/pullovers/cardigans
White, pale blue, or navyshirts/blouses/T-shirts

Summer clothes for boys:

Greyshorts/trousers

Navysweatshirts/pullovers/jumpers

White, pale blue or navy T-shirts/shirts

Summer clothes for girls:

Greyskirts/shorts

Blue & white check or stripesummer dresses

White, pale blue or navyblouses/T-shirts

Navycardigans/jumpers

Navy round-necked sweatshirts, V-necked cardigans, T-shirts, polo shirts, zipped fleeces and baseball caps incorporating the school badge may be purchased through the school at reasonable prices.

For health and safety reasons it is essential that pupils wear suitable footwear. Shoes or trainers must be dark-coloured and flatheeled. Please ensure your child does not wear fashion shoes, open toed sandals or high block heels.

Please also ensure that your child is dressed for their working day in the appropriate uniform. Pupils who attend Harrowbarrow School should be in clothes that comply with the school colours. Children may wear a watch to school but the wearing of any other form of jewellery, with the exception of stud earrings, is discouraged in the interest of health & safety.

It is extremely important children attend school with an appropriate coat as they will spend time outside, regardless of the weather.

Extremes of hairstyle are not allowed. What is an extreme and therefore unacceptable hairstyle is difficult to define. Our current school Hairstyle Policy is as follows:

The school does not accept any display of inappropriate hairstyles, including:

  • The dying of hair to an extreme and unnatural colour (eg red, blue or pink)
  • Shaven heads where the hair is shorter than a number 1
  • Sculpted hairstyles where the hair is deliberately shaped into an extreme style or design e.g. patterns or words shaved into very short hair are not acceptable.

The final decision on what is acceptable rests with the leadership of the school.

Lost Property

Lost items appear regularly. Possessions can only be returned if they are clearly labelled with the child’s name. Name tapes can be ordered through the school. A lost property ‘bin’ is located in the entrance foyer.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Although children in the Early Years Foundation Stage will participate in some movement activities without changing into full PE kit, they should have their PE kit in school at all times.

For health, safety and hygiene reasons, it is very important that children learn to change into the appropriate kit when doing their PE sessions. If earrings cannot be removed they should be taped on PE days. Please ensure your child has a plain navy or white T-shirt and navy or black shorts. Long hair should be tied back.

It is also a good idea to bring a tracksuit, hat and gloves over the winter months and a sun hat and sun cream for the summer months. Trainers/plimsolls must be worn for outside sessions and all children who play football and tag rugby require boots and shin pads.

Please ensure your child has their PE kit at all times during the school week.

The school will provide team kits for competitive matches against other schools.

Sport is used in the school to promote health, communication skills, a sense of fair play and honest competition as well as developing physical skills and talents.

P.E. and Games are done in the large covered play area or adjacent village hall. Spacious outdoor facilities exist for athletics and team games and with the addition of the activity trail the children are offered ample opportunity to enjoy a range of physical activities.

The school participates in competitive team sports and has been rewarded with success in athletics, cross-country, netball, soccer and tag rugby.

All classes are timetabled to have at least two PE sessions per week and the school’s aim is to achieve the Government’s target of 2 hours of quality physical activity for all children each week.

SCHOOL PREMISES

The school caters for 100 - 120 pupils from the villages of Harrowbarrow, Metherell and the surrounding area.

There are four classrooms, two infants, a lower junior and upper junior. A large central room also serves as an assembly hall/ library/ music and resources room. Additionally,computer technology (PCs, laptops, digital video cameras, portable recording devises etc) is used to enhance learning and each classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard. The school also has a dedicated computer and cookery area shared by all classes.

Other facilities include extensive grounds containing environmental studies areas, wildlife pond, poly tunnel, outdoor activity trail, reception safe play area, KS1 outdoor learning area, a large covered games/playground area and a football/athletics pitch.

The school also has use of the adjacent village hall for P.E, drama activities and school productions throughout the year.School meals are of a high standard and are cooked on the premises using locally sourced ingredients. Located in the adjoining school house are the school's administrative offices and reception area. Should your child choose to cycle to school there is a bicycle storage facility in the front playground. Children are asked to dismount before entering the playground, in consideration of other users, and must take responsibility for their own bike’s security. We have disabled access throughout the school.

TIMES OF SCHOOL DAY

8.00amBreakfast Club (For a small fee of £1.75 children can attend Breakfast Club. For this they will be provided with fruit juice, cereal and toast. For more information please contact the school office).

8.50amSchool begins at 8.50am prompt. Children arriving before this time must go to the covered playground where they are supervised from 8.40am. Children must not arrive before 8.40am.

10.30am - 10.50amMorning Break

12.00 - 1.00pm Lunch time. School meals are cooked on site and are ofa high standard. They currently cost £2.10 per day (If you receive benefits, your children may be entitled tofree school meals.)

2.00pm - 2.15pmAfternoon Break (infants only)

3.10pmSchool finishes. At dismissal time parents of infants are asked to meet their children in the school playground from which point they may safely escort them out of school through the main exit gate. Junior children also leave via this exit.

We promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging children to walk to school. Pupils may also cycle, although parents are responsible for their own children. A cycle storage rack can be found to the front of the school.

TEACHING ARRANGEMENTS

The teaching and learning in each class is a blend of individual, group and class teaching; this blend varies according to the subject, pupil needs, and levels of ability. Personalised learning is viewed as integral to meeting the needs of every individual child.

Throughout the school year, teachers will exchange classes for specific subjects e.g. French, PE, music and science. This has many benefits such as enabling all pupils to get to know the staff, allowing the staff to teach at different levels and to give the children the benefit of a particular staffing expertise.

SEN – Special Educational Needs

The school makes provision for children with special educational needs. Any child identified with special educational needs will be fully integrated into all aspects of school life. The school works in an integrated approach with a variety of SEN professionals who provide training for staff,

assessment of children’s needs and the identification of learning support programmes. Obviously, we work even more closely with parents, where their child has been identified as having additional needs.

Equality of Opportunity

As part of the school ethos we promote equality of opportunity for all. This is developed through our curriculum and staff will act promptly if it is felt an individual or group has been discriminated against.

CURRICULUM

On joining our school, your child will enter the Early Years Foundation Stage (Age 4-5). Early years learning concentrates on 7 areas split between prime and specific areas of learning.

The prime areas of learning are:

  • communication and language
  • physical development
  • personal, social and emotional development

The specific areas of learning are:

  • literacy
  • mathematics
  • understanding the world
  • expressive arts and design

Teaching is often done through play, where the child learns about subjects and other people through games.

From the EYFS, children progress to Key Stage 1 (age 5-7) then Key Stage 2 (age 7-11) and are taught the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum. This consists of three main core subjects; Mathematics, English and Science, two additional core subjects of Religious Education (RE) and Information Communication Technology (ICT), plus seven foundation subjects; History, Geography, Design Technology (DT), Music, Art, PE and Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) & Citizenship. In our primary school many of the subjects are taught through a topic themed approach.

RE is taught according to the locally agreed syllabus. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from religious education and collective worship if they so wish. Children withdrawn will be supervised in one of the classrooms.

Sexual Relationships Education (SRE) is taught to older juniors according to the requirements set down in the National Curriculum and the Governors Policy on Sexual Relationships Education. This policy also encompasses education on personal hygiene, family life and moral codes.

In addition, French is taught throughout the school, starting with basic vocabulary from the EYFS. We have established communication links with schools in France, which provide opportunities for the children to practice their French in a real life context. Pupils in Year 6 also have the opportunity to spend a week in France with children from other local schools.

The school's well stocked library is organised. Infant pupils have a library session each week where they borrow a book to keep in class. Junior pupils are encouraged to take library books to supplement their reading experience.

Extra-curricular activities

Enrichment afternoons

Each term childrenparticipate in a range of enrichment activities for one afternoon a week. These activities provide opportunities to extend learning beyond the normal curriculum provision. Children also have the opportunity to work with their peers in other classes and in a small group. Previous options have included gardening, mosaic making, science experiments and wake & shake.

Music

Violin, flute, clarinet and brass lessons are offered, if so desired, and charged for privately by individual music teachers. We havea school orchestra, which meets on a weekly basis before the beginning of the school day on a Wednesday from 8.15- 8.45.

School Trips

Regular educational trips by our classes to places of interest also help to enrich pupils learning. All junior pupils have the opportunity to participate in a residential trip on an annual basis.